erfolgreich

Erfolgreich is a German adjective meaning having achieved the desired results or producing success. It describes people, organizations, projects, or actions that have met their goals or performed well. The word is formed from the noun Erfolg (success) with the adjectival suffix -reich, yielding a term that literally connotes “rich in success.” The concept is widespread across business, science, sports and public life.

Etymology and form: Erfolgreich derives from Erfolg plus the suffix -reich. In contemporary German it functions as a standard attributive and predicative adjective and can also be used adverbially in phrases such as "erfolgreich arbeiten" or, more commonly, "Sie hat erfolgreich verhandelt." In declension it follows the regular adjective endings: der erfolgreiche Plan, die erfolgreiche Studie, das erfolgreiche Projekt; plural die erfolgreichen Projekte. After definite articles, endings are relatively stable (der erfolgreiche Mann); after indefinite or no article, endings vary with gender and case (ein erfolgreicher Mann).

Usage and examples: Common collocations include erfolgreiche Karriere, erfolgreich abgeschlossen, erfolgreiches Unternehmen, and erfolgreich arbeiten. The term is also used to evaluated outcomes, such as "ein erfolgreiches Experiment" or "eine erfolgreiche Kampagne." The opposite is erfolglos (unsuccessful) or ohne Erfolg.

See also: Erfolg, Erfolgs-, erfolgsbezogene Begriffe. The concept generally emphasizes measurable results, impact, and the completion of intended aims, making it a frequent descriptor in reports, biographies, and evaluative writing.